#this has been in my drafts since like june I think

[forestshadow-wolf]

That one au where every time you tell a lie it becomes a scar on your body and the more you tell it, the worse it gets

Ghost who's covered in scars from head to toe, such that it makes him untrustworthy to everyone, save for the people who truely know him

And soap with almost no scars except for one deep scar that runs diagally down his back, and people tend to trust him until they see it

Ghost has so many because that what he does, that's his job, that's how he survived his ENTIRE life. So yeah he's gonna have a lot of scars and wound from it, that's not exactly gonna stop his survival instincts

Soap is genuinely an honest man, but he's been in the military long enough to see plenty a soldiers die, many of whom he knew or commanded or what have you. They're all always afraid, so soap's gonna comfort them, tell them it'll be okay, tell they he'll get them out, tell them he's not scared to falter. Even if he knows it's a lie. Sometimes it's ignorance that people need. Fake it 'til you make it right?

[patternedlantern]

And you'll save all your dirtiest jokes for me And at every table, I'll save you a seat…

[coffeeandcalligraphy]

HA I'm 100% not making this camp nanowrimo goal

[cartoonybus]

bobbi's so scrawny compared to the others, like i'm kinda worried about him 😭

LIKE

[luv-lies]

I DON’T HAVE BABY FEVER .ᐟ

characters. satoru gojo / suguru geto / kento nanami / choso kamo / toji fushiguro / ryomen sukuna / hiromi higuruma

content warnings. fem!reader / established relationship / pet names / lots of compliments / suggestive / sukuna refers to reader as brat / toji’s takes place after megumi / reader and suguru take care of nanako & mimiko / lovesick and desperate men / meshinuma reference for higuruma’s / lots of touching summary. baby fever is a contagious feeling and your husband is definitely not immune to it. . .

a/n. ummm… luvie’s comeback !! this has been in my drafts since june and i’ve only jus’ finished it now "( – ⌓ – ) i think the characters are ooc, but i wanted to get this out of my drafts before the end of this month ! sorry if it’s rushed ㅜㅜ fanart by @/tekla135 on x

SATORU GOJO

“you look so pretty.” satoru’s words were muffled by your stomach, face smushed against you as he covered your skin in feather-light kisses. it was constant, though recently, his touches were more gentle and longing, eyes following you everywhere like a lost puppy. “always so pretty. . .”

your fingers tangled in his hair, lightly tugging at the strands. his eyes fluttered closed at the feeling, every gentle tug sending shivers down his spine. satoru desired you more than he had ever desired anything, content with just having you in his arms, yet lately, his thoughts had been drifting to a future where you had a little one to hold as well. he could imagine the three of you enjoying ice-cream together while walking through a park, all of you wearing matching socks and onesies, and cuddling on the couch watching movies.

“toru?” you asked quietly, noticing the distant expression on satoru’s face, “are you okay?”

satoru hummed with a dopey grin, leaning into your hand and kissing your palm. “just thinking about you.” and he was. almost all of his thoughts started with you. except now, his thoughts started with you and one— maybe two little additions to your family he wouldn’t mind sharing his love with.

SUGURU GETO

ever since you and suguru took in nanako and mimiko, suguru’s doted on the girls and practically spoiled them with anything and everything they’ve asked for. he’d never been one to tell them no.

even now as his hand rested on your hip, squeezing at the bare skin every once in a while as the both of you got comfortable in your shared bed. you could feel his warm breath hitting the back of your neck, his thighs pressed against yours with his other hand resting just below your breast. “y’know. . .” suguru began, gently squeezing your hip again and shifting closer so he could rest his chin on your shoulder, “the girls have been asking for a sibling.”

sometimes, suguru found himself yearning to ask you the same question. he loved nanako and mimiko, he really did, but he often caught himself thinking about having his own child. a child that shared his eyes and your beautiful smile, perhaps even your warm laughter. the thought sent a warmth spreading across his cheeks, his heart aching with love, desperation, and most of all, longing.

“yeah?” you asked with a chuckle, looking over your shoulder where he planted a kiss. “yeah.” suguru repeated, trailing kisses up to your ear, hand slowly massaging your breast. “you’ll look so gorgeous.”

KENTO NANAMI

the smell of the fresh pastry and sweet cinnamon rolls hit your face as soon as you stepped into the bakery you and your husband visited frequently. a small child, only about the height of your knee, accidentally walked into you and dropped his plush toy. out of the goodness of your heart, you bent down and picked the fluffy bunny up off the ground and held it out the boy. “are you alright?”

shyly, the boy grabbed the toy, nodded, and murmured a quiet “thank you, miss”, before rushing off past the both of you. you stood up straight and glanced over at kento when you noticed his gaze on you, a faint smile on his lips. "is something on my face?" you asked self consciously, your face turning a slight shade of red.

kento simply shook his head and instead brushed a few strands of hair away from your face, “i just think you were being very sweet.” though what you did was what anyone else might’ve done, to kento, it was the sweetest thing in the world—simply because it was you. if it had been someone like satoru, he probably wouldn’t have given it a second thought. but in that moment, seeing how gentle you were with that child, it only made him fall in love with you all over again.

CHOSO KAMO

choso’s arms were tightly wrapped around you, fingers daintily tracing shapes across your lower back. a content sigh escaped his lips, his hold on you tightening just a little bit more. his mind raced, questioned and already pre-made outcomes swirling in a chaotic dance. kids—or the possibility of them—had been a conversation he longed to ask. choso was a family-oriented man. he cherished his brothers deeply and he knew that he would love his own child just as fiercely if you two ever had one.

“do you think. . .” choso began, pausing, he swallowed thickly, “do you think we could ever have a child?”

if you said no, his love wouldn’t waver for a moment. though he would feel disappointed, your happiness was all he truly desired. he was madly in love, his love for you so intense he thought he would die from heart palpitations each and every time you even spared him a single glance.

with a contemplative hum, you slowly nodded. “would you like it if we tried?” he exhaled deeply, a soft smile adorning his lips as he mimicked your head movement. “i’d like that.”

TOJI FUSHIGURO

despite having said he was done having kids after megumi, toji’s hand always seemed to linger on your stomach a little longer than necessary. if you asked, he’d probably give you a look and call you delusional for even thinking he wanted to have another baby. toji doesn’t get baby fever. he had already been through parenthood; sleepless nights and diapers.

“—but they’re just so cute and small.” your attempts to persuade toji felt futile. he placed his hand on his shoulder and rolled it with a low grunt. “i already told you, no.” you buried your face in the pillow, sulking. toji glanced back, raising an eyebrow at your behavior. “don’t start. we’ve already talked about this,” he said, his tone gruff. noticing your silence, his expression softened slightly and he patted your hip. “c’mon, sit.”

wordlessly, you shifted to sit on his lap, a lingering pout on your lips. toji raised his hand and used his thumb to brush down on your bottom lip to coax the frown away. “don’t give me that face. i just don’t want to rush you if you’re not ready,” he muttered lowly, reluctant to give into your pout. “i’m ready, toji.” you whispered, meeting his gaze with a pleading look he could never say no to. he let out grunt, his resolve crumbling, and with a firm grip on your thighs, lifted you up effortlessly, laying you down on the bed.

“get ready then, sweetheart. ‘s gonna be a long night.”

RYOMEN SUKUNA

before he met you, he never once thought of having a child of his own. they were small, annoying, and would only get in the way of his peaceful evenings with you. so when he saw you tending to a small child crying in a supermarket, he couldn’t help the way his heart began to beat a little faster in a mixture of annoyance and desire at the sight of you. infuriating, to say the least. but sukuna’s never been one to shy away from what he wanted, a truth made abundantly clear by the fact you’re still by his side—and, more specifically, nestled on his lap.

“i want an heir.” one pause, then another. you gawked at him in disbelief. “what?” his hands possessively kneaded at your hips before one of them rested on your stomach, you could feel the weight of his gaze on your smaller form. never once had he ever hinted at wanting a child. “i won’t repeat myself, brat,” sukuna grumbled impatiently, his eyes bored into yours. “you are the only woman i want as the mother of my child.”

as demanding as he may be, sukuna truly cared for you. you were the only human he tolerated—the only one he desired. in a world where hatred and fear was the only emotion reflected in the eyes of those who gazed upon him, yours were warm, your presence offering him a kind of solace he had never felt before. and for the first time, he had felt peace.

“i will teach the brat how to punish those who cross us.” “ryomen.”

HIROMI HIGURUMA

“daddy!” a high-pitched voice called out from behind you and your husband, hiromi. you turned to see a little girl now hugging his leg tightly, her nose tinted pink and her eyes a little puffy from what you assumed, crying. surprised and slightly bewildered, the both of you exchanged a glance before you kneeled down to her level. “are you lost, sweetie?” you asked gently.

the girl quickly pulled away when she realized that she wasn’t hugging her papa and in fact, a stranger, her bottom lip quivered as if she was about to cry again, “i can’t find my daddy. he told me to find the shaved ice stall, but i don’t know where it is.”

you smiled warmly and extended your hand out towards her. “it’s okay, let’s go find it and wait there together.” the little girl’s eyes brightened at your offer, and she nodded eagerly, grabbing your hand.

oh. . . the way you smiled at her, so sweetly, so motherly. higuruma almost felt feverish, his heart swelling with a different warmth, an unfamiliar longing. the thought was dizzying and almost addicting. you would look so beautiful—stunning, not that you aren’t already, but the thoughts and images of you pregnant struck him in a way that made his poor heart ache. in that moment, he knew he was entirely screwed, completely captivated and unable to shake the image of you and your child out of his mind.

© 2024 LUV-LIES do not plagiarize, steal, translate or repost my works on any platforms!

[dovveri]

pleaseee thigh riding with sana. shes extremely mean after a little teasing. lots of degrading. :D

the edge's temptation

synopsis: what the ask said

warnings: edging, spanking, pussy spanking, swearing, mentions of exhibitionism, kind of petplay? but not rly idk reader wears a collar and leash and sana calls her pup like once, grinding, thigh-riding, strap-ons, degradation

w/c: 2k

a/n: this has been sitting in drafts since... june 22 LMAOO id write like one sentence a week i cant write smut id rather kiss a man but here it is at last!! idk if the anon who req this is still here after all the drama but i think there are others who'll like this anyway bcs yall all horknee so enjoy!

｡ •̀ ᵕ •́ ｡

your girlfriend was impossible. she had already edged you twice tonight, and an orgasm was nowhere in sight.

"s-sana p-le-ase!"

she tuts, "what do you want?"

"wanna c-cum! p-please i've been- fuck- good!"

"good? bending over and sucking off half the audience is good?"

"i- i didn't- i didn't!"

"you basically did. you think just anyone can touch you? is that what we're doing now? fucking whore. you'd do anything for attention wouldn't you?"

"n-no! o-only yours- shit- sana please- i'm not- i'm good-"

"good girls don't lie. what you are is a liar and a slut. maybe i should just give you what you want. i can bring you back out there, fuck you in front of the entire award show. then they'll know they can't touch you right?"

you pulse at the thought, you know she'd never actually do it, she was way too possessive to let anyone else see you bare and ruined for her, but the slim possibility, the very real irritation she was exuding had you picturing exactly the situation she described. and fuck she was right, she knew you too well. you'd love to be claimed in front of everyone, for the whole world to see just how good sana could make you feel.

she chuckles darkly, ripping her fingers out of you, "clenching around me at that? and you say you're good. fucking pathetic. suck."

it's not a command. she shoves her fingers into your open, panting mouth roughly, chin tilting up at the sight of you. your lips immediately close around her fingers and you suck your slick off her digits obediently, eyes lidded, dizzy from the taste of yourself and the way she was treating you.

sana's eyes roam over the expanse of skin while you suck on her fingers, her hands tracing over the lines of your body. you're perched across her lap, her hand palming your ass, pretty lilac collar around your neck attached to a dark purple leash she's rolling around loosely in her other hand.

“look at you, dripping onto me. was this all me?” the hand that’s at your ass dips down, her fingers coming to slide between your soaked lips, “or was it the guys that fawned over you tonight? attention whore.” she sends a slap to your pussy, the contact making you whine, squirming away but also desperately needing more.

“i don’t even see how that one guy you let touch your waist was so funny. you were laughing so prettily, head tilted back, almost like you were tempting him to just claim the empty space on your neck.” she tugs the leash, your body lurching forward, pussy meeting her knee, throat constricting, trying to prolong the pressure on your cunt before she slaps your ass, pulling your hips back so you’re weight is on your hands and knees again.

“you’re mine. everything is mine. your voice, this pretty ass, these tits, your pussy, it’s all mine to feel, mine to enjoy, mine to see.” she punctuates each phrase with the tug of a nipple or a slap against reddened skin. “no one else can make you feel this good anyway isn’t that right slut? and yet you still look for that attention. it’s like you want me to get mad. is that it? do you want my attention? do you want me to treat you like this? you want me to get all possessive and mean? turns you on huh? well i hate to break it to you sweetie but only good girls get to cum.”

you whine, daring to turn your head to look at her with a pleading look, begging for something, anything.

she scoffs, "is that your begging face? i saw you use the exact same one with those guys tonight."

your face morphs into shock, trying to backtrack, "n-no i didn't! i didn't i swear- you- you must have seen wrong-"

"you saying there's something wrong with my eyes?"

"no! no no not you, p-please please i'm sorry i- i'll be good please-"

she tuts again, moving you around so you're sitting on her lap, dripping cunt finally getting some friction against the skin of her thigh. you moan at the feeling, frantically humping down against her while she has you there.

"look at you- pathetic."

you whine, wrapping your hands around her neck and burying your face into her shoulder, whimpering and gasping with each thrust against her thigh, too embarrassed to look at her but too desperate to keep yourself still. you almost cry out when she tenses her thigh, the muscle rubbing along your clit in just the way you needed.

"s-sana i want to- can i- please- i wanna-"

"what? what does my little pup want?"

"cum! c-can i cum!?"

sana's quiet for a little, you're almost afraid you've done something wrong or she's no longer into it, but you're physical needs outweighed your saner mind, your one-track mind only concerned with feeling as good as she was making you feel.

so you continue rutting against her, chasing your high desperately while she bites her lip, watching your tits sway with each thrust, her own position compromised as she feels herself grow sticky and wet from the sight and sounds.

you push against her, more and more, whining and moaning right into her ear, knowing she loves to hear you, testing her patience, fluttering internally at the way her grip on your hips tighten with each second, nails digging into your skin just enough to give that perfect sting you adored.

“s-sana? c-can i?” you ask again, holding back the looming crash of your orgasm through tensed muscles.

her eyes snap up to yours and then she grips your hips even harder, forcing you to stop.

you cry, body automatically fighting against her, trying to reject her, but it knew who owned it. you succumbed within seconds, gasping into her shoulder, mourning the loss of what could've been.

"at least you're polite now." her voice is gruff, nails still digging into your skin.

you can’t respond, too exhausted and despaired to do anything but cry.

you don’t even notice her shuffling you around, your hips canting up into nothing whenever she even lingers near your cunt.

that is until you feel the cool silicone strap dragging through your folds, lubing itself up in your essence, catching at your clit, then dragging back down.

you clench around nothing, throwing your head back with an arm over your eyes.

sana tuts, pulling it away, “look at me when i fuck you pup. i’m gonna make sure you remember who owns you.” she thrusts inside, doesn’t give you a chance to think before pulling back out, “gonna make sure you remember who you come home to.” another thrust. “going to fuck you out so good you’ll never be able to take anyone else but me.”

and then she takes off.

she’s gripping your hands together on your lower stomach. that way, your arms push your chest in for her pleasured viewing as she fucks into you with rigor. it also stops you from leaving lines of red down her back while she groans at the sight of the light purple strap attached to herself, grinding against her own clit with each thrust, pulling out wetter than it was each time it goes inside you.

“f-fuck- sana- oh god- i’m- you’re so good fuck-“

“yeah? can anyone else make you feel this way? anyone else- you’d cum for?”

“n-no! only y-you sana fuck- please can i- please-!”

“hold on a little longer baby- let me- fuck god you look so fucking good-"

you whine, thighs shaking as she keeps plowing into you, her eyes locked on the way she pushes inside you every half second. you don't think you can hold on for much longer, she had to understand right? she had edged you three times now, and you were already soo worked up even before she got her hands on you. that wasn't really your fault, she just looked so good in her pretty dress tonight and you couldn't stop imagining her between your legs, eating you out under the dining table while the rest of the world applauded people that would never hold a light to your girlfriend.

"sana i'm gonna- i can't hold it any longer-"

"i told you to fucking wait- fuck- you want me to stop again? huh? leave you hanging all splayed out and desperate to cum?"

you shake your head desperately, holding onto her wrists, eyes clenching shut trying to ward off the looming orgasm.

"i'm almost there baby we'll cum together- c'mon- fuck- you look so good- only i get to see you like this- fuck-"

you nod, her words swimming around in your head, doing whatever you can to appease her, hips returning her thrusts in a frenzy, not even trying to match her pace, just fucked out dumb and reacting with pure physicality.

she leans down, finally, panting next to your ear, thrusts reaching deeper than ever, "alright baby. cum for me."

you cum on command, clenching tightly around her and scream as you come undone, head thrown back, body fluttering and shaking as she continues rutting into you albeit slower and softer. you dimly register her muttering small curses against your throat as you come down, hips stuttering to a slow stop, still buried deep inside you.

you wrap your arms around her tightly now that she's freed you, hugging your sweaty bodies close and reveling in the feeling of her weight on top of you.

you lay like that for a few minutes, breathing in her scent and catching your breath together.

eventually, she has to pull out and you groan lightly as she gently coaxes herself off of you, brushing your sweaty hair off your forehead and pecking you sweetly.

you make grabby hands at her when she’s standing and taking the harness off.

sana giggles, “just a minute baby. you know i wanna cuddle too but i have to clean this.”

you whine incomprehensibly, mumbling a small hurry as she walks towards your bathroom and starts rinsing the strap off.

she comes back far too late for your liking so you try and make up for it by curling around her immediately, climbing almost on top of her and sighing when she runs a hand through your hair in comfort.

“good?”

“you don’t even have to ask.” you mumble against her bare chest, eyes drooping.

she giggles again, you feel the movement in her throat, “wasn’t too much right?”

you shake your head, “you were perfect. like always. thank you. i love you.”

you feel the smile on her lips when she kisses your forehead, “don’t pull that shit in public again or i swear-“

“you’ll fuck it out of me?” you glance up at her with a lazy smile and lidded eyes.

she rolls her eyes, tightening her grip around you, “spoilt.”

“because you love me.”

“i do. even when you’re being a brat.”

“you love when i’m a brat. you love taking power anyway since everyone thinks you can’t top.”

“who thinks that?!”

you shrug, cuddling closer as she gawks at you, trying to get you to look at her. “jeongie says it’s because you have no muscle.” you poke at her bicep lovingly, laughing when she blanches and tries flexing immediately, “nayeonnie says you’re too much of a baby.”

“am not!”

“and momo just doesn’t see it.”

“wha-“

“and she’s known you for the longest soo-“

“okay first of all my muscle is growing back! second, nayeon just says that because she treats me like that and she’s never known otherwise! and momo- momo’s just saying shit because she wants to mess with me!”

you laugh, clasping your hands together and kissing the swell of her breast, “i know i know… i’m not complaining anyway.” you stretch and curl back around her like a cat, “i get all the benefits.”

sana puffs her chest and you adore her pride. “that’s right.”

you giggle, kissing her again and continue talking about nothing and everything, a non-negotiable for the both of you after any session, no matter how quick or small.

[semifilms]

☆HE HAS A CRUSH ON YOU | toru oikawa

a/n - this been marinating in the drafts since june. COLLECTING DUST BUNNIES.

cw - none

okay, oikawa has a flirty personality but when he is romantically interested in you i think he flirts completely differently. like he wants it to be obvious he’s into you without saying he’s into you. maybe he’s walking wi you to class and some girl comes up to him like; “oikawa can i talk to you for a moment?” he knows just by that twin she wants to confess to him. his eye merely twitches at the fact. “ah, sorry maybe another time i’m kinda busy.” he’d politely say to dismiss her. these small acts he starts to do when developing a crush on you, and they go completely unnoticed by you until someone else brings it up.

you wouldn’t believe it at first until you finally notice. then you tease him about it to get him to tell you. mainly to see if it’s true because you’re still skeptical. “oikawa what do you think about going on a date?” you’d ask him suddenly while walking to the train station. he tenses up, “on a date..?” he muttered with a raised brow. “yeah, some guys asked me out during lunch and i’m considering it but i’m asking you because you’ve been on plenty i assume.”

you’re lying, but he doesn’t know that so in the moment he feels stupid. stupid for even thinking for a second you were trying to ask him on a date. “what makes you think i’ve been on plenty?” he asks offended, hiding his disappointed look with a confused one. you shrugged and glanced at him “you get confessed to a lot so i assume you’ve gone at least one date.”

neither of you speaks for a few minutes. you walk in silence, you’re not really sure why but you didn’t feel the need to speak up until the setter breaks the silence.

“i don’t think you should go on a date with him, he’s a bad guy. i’ve heard a lot about him.” you smiled to yourself at oikawa’s delayed response. “that’s funny,” you scoff before slowly lying down your pace and coming to a stop at a stop light. you turned to him with a smirk on your face. “what’s funny?” he asks

“i didn’t even tell you who he was,” you stated matter-of-factly. you swore you could hear his heart drop as he stopped to face you with a wary look on his face. “didn’t you though?” he hesitantly asked and you shook your head ‘no’.

the brunette rubbed the back of his neck nervously, “well what’s his name?” he asked. “doesn’t exist.” you stated with a shrug.

“is he a foreign student? that’s a weird name-” you laughed at him and cut him off. “no, he doesn’t exist. i made it up, i just wanted to see how you’d react.” you said as the light turned green and the walking figure lit up causing you to cross the street on instinct. oikawa followed quickly behind.

“why would you want to see my reaction?”

you shrugged again, you were now at the train station and you had pulled out your ic card and tapped it while walking into the station.

“do you have a crush on me?” your question was sudden and you caught oikawa off guard for the umpteenth time today. “why?” he asks his voice quiet. you both stood on the platform with other waiting people for your train and you glanced over to oikawa.

“does it matter? i just want to know if it’s true or not.”

there was another moment of silence between the two of you. though it wasn’t too quiet as trains could be heard getting closer and people around you kept talking. “what happens if i say yes?”

you don’t respond for another moment as you thought carefully about what to say next. “to be honest, i’m not sure right now, but we’ll figure it out together.”

he didn’t want to ruin his opportunity. though your response was vague he took it as his sign. the setter took a deep breath and turned his whole body to face you, you did the same.

“yes, y/n. i have a crush on you and i have for a while now and i’d really like to take you or on a date or something—only if you want to.”

your stomach fluttered and twisted into knots. you didn’t know if actually hearing it from his mouth made a difference but whatever feelings you had for oikawa. that you thought were just platonic did not feel like it at the moment.

“i want to.”

©semifilms do not copy, repost or translate my works

reblogs appreciated!

[annieqattheperipheral]

HER STORY IS INCREDIBLE EVERYONE SIT DOWN AND LEARN FROM THIS QUEEN ⤵️

Kiana Scott, who played minor hockey system for 11 seasons, including four seasons on boys teams, gravitated to scouting from watching her brother’s games and critiquing his strengths and weaknesses.

Unaware of jobs available in hockey, she enrolled in makeup artistry college after high school, but knew her heart was in the sport.

She eventually enrolled in an online hockey general manager scouting course.

Scott joined the International Scouting Service Hockey mentorship program in 2018 and scouted for the service for two years while holding down two jobs.

“I love scouting future prospects, and the evaluation process,” she said. “I think that's kind of where my passion lies. It's just the evaluation process. And it's exciting, building a team.”

Scott spent two seasons as a full-time scout for Erie before she took a bold step and left the organization to move to Calgary and became an independent scout in June 2022.

“I just kept practicing my craft and kind of paid my own way, like, throughout the whole year,” she said. “All of the tickets to every game, all of my travel expenses, everything. I just put all my money into scouting and trying to evolve and then I ended up getting my (Avalanche) internship the next year.”

Scott had some financial help from her family for the move and she supplemented her income by working as a bartender at a Calgary casino, a job with hours that allowed her to scout games.

If all that wasn’t enough, she also enrolled in the University of Florida’s online sports management program.

“I've always had the mindset to just keep betting on myself and working hard and evolving,” she said. “I think I've taken a lot of risks to get to where I am, but I wouldn't try to change the journey for anything.”

Scott said she hopes women, women of color and people who don’t come from a so-called “traditional” hockey background will follow her on the journey.

“I grew up playing hockey, but I didn’t play professional hockey, I didn’t go to college or university for hockey,” she said. “I just had a passion for it. I love scouting. I worked at it, and I continue working at my craft.

“People that don’t necessarily come from the traditional background, I hope they see themselves in me and believe that they can put their minds to it and get it done.”

-----

The 2024 NHL Draft was as eventful for Kiana Scott as it was for the players who were selected in the seven-round event at Sphere in Las Vegas last month.

The 25-year-old Barrie, Ontario, native signed with the Colorado Avalanche at the draft to become a full-time amateur scout, fulfilling a goal she has had since she was a teenager.

“This is something that I've worked really hard for my whole career to be able to sign my first NHL contract,” Scott said. “I was elated. The Avs have been really good for me the past year, and I’m excited to keep building with them.”

Scott joined the Avalanche after working as an intern for the organization.

Colorado general manager Chris MacFarland said he and executive director of hockey operations Suzanne Borchert “were impressed with her work ethic and her passion."

MacFarland said: “Kiana was on our radar when she was scouting in major junior circuits ... and it worked that a few years ago we had an internship opportunity for her.

“She did a good job in that role and was an integral part of our amateur scouting department. We’re excited to see her contributions moving forward in her full-time role as an amateur scout.”

-----

Scott made history when she became the first woman scout in the Ontario Hockey League with Erie in March 2020.

She was among the initial of a wave of women who were hired in recent years as scouts at all levels of hockey, including Cammi Granato (Seattle Kraken), Blake Bolden (Los Angeles Kings), Krissy Wendell-Pohl (Pittsburgh Penguins), Meghan Hunter (Chicago Blackhawks), Gabriella Switaj (Anaheim Ducks) and Brigette Lacquette (Chicago Blackhawks).

Granato moved on from Seattle to become an assistant general manager for the Vancouver Canucks on Feb. 10, 2022, and Hunter was promoted to assistant GM by the Blackhawks on June 22, 2022.

“When I first started scouting, I didn’t know of any women in the industry already,” she said. “Cammi Granato got her job with the NHL a year after I started scouting. That’s when I kind of knew it was possible. But I never had anyone to look up to. I just had this dream and the passion for hockey. I knew that I had to the talent and skill to do it, and to try to keep building on them.

"That’s what I’ve always gone off on -- keep evolving, never give up on what you love.”

[werepuppy-steve]

july fic rec

a monthly rec series to help me with my tbr

this was supposed to be june's fic rec, but i was way too busy with real life things to actually sit down and read anything, so this is a combo of the few fics i already had drafted and what i actually read this month.

FULL DISCLOSURE: some of these were read and bookmarked in previous months but for some reason didn't end up on any rec post??? this is me remedying that

❀ <- may fic rec ��� more fic recs ❀ my ao3

like a virgin - E, 1.6k, complete bdelaney

tags: transmasc steve, established relationship, cunnilingus, fisting, squirting

It’s not that the rumors of Steve’s promiscuity are wrong exactly. There’s just been some stretching of the truth involved, rumors with details that he doesn’t deny despite their inaccuracy. Because despite the fact that he’s spent many nights with his face buried between the thighs of his many conquests, no one has gotten his pants off to service him the way he does others, and that’s by design. But Eddie complicates things, as he has a tendency to do, because Steve wants to be selfish for once. Wants his first time being touched to be Eddie. It’s all he can think about.

Tender Headed - G, 1.5k, complete (ao3) @steddie-island | kintsugi_kid

tags: hairstylist eddie, touch starved steve, fluff, meetcute

Steve almost has a breakdown when his self-care routine is threatened, but stylist Eddie is happy to step in

glacé (candied peach) - E, 11.8k, complete @hawkinsbnbg

tags: omegaverse, alpha eddie, omega steve, true mates, light dubcon/under-negotiated kink, creep/perv eddie, rockstar eddie

"What made an angel like you fall into my lap, hm?" A husky voice sounded in his ear. Startled, Steve let out a squeak. But the arm around his waist stopped him from falling out of the stranger's lap. "Relax, Angel," the man chuckled warmly. "I won't bite." Steve wasn't sure he could do that. He felt like he was in a grave danger. The kind of dying-from-embarrassment danger.

Falling Into the Deep End - E, 2/2, complete (ao3) @stevesjockstrap | deansdemondick

tags: tattoo artist eddie, modern au, swimmer steve

Corroded Coffin Tattoo gets a new client that shakes up their summer.

Birthday Blues - T, 4.5k, complete (ao3) @steviewashere

tags: alcoholism, angst, emotional abuse, hurt/comfort, steve has a good mom

"He thought his twentieth birthday would come with more fanfare. Maybe not the whole calvary. But something simple. A cake, maybe. A card, possibly. Even just a simple “Happy Birthday.” That would’ve sufficed. And the problem isn’t with his friends. No. They’ve sent him messages over the walkie since the clock hit midnight on June 29th. — The issue is with his mom’s boyfriend. His ‘stepdad.’" OR Steve just wants his stepdad to love him and Eddie makes it known how many other people actually love him

Our Kids - T, 7.4k, complete DotyTakeThisDown

tags: fluff, getting together, apple orchards

“I’m sorry, Steve, can you say that again?” Eddie says from the other end of the phone line. “I thought I heard you volunteered me to drive to an apple orchard.” Steve winces, glad that Eddie can’t see his face right now. “I did.” “Okay.” A long pause. “And what about me screams apple cider and flower picking to you?”

steve vs spiders - E, series, complete crybaby

tags: modern au, meet-cute, grindr, arachnophobia

“Steve?” The guy asks, and Steve can just nod. He holds out a hand, but drops it back to his side when Steve doesn’t move to shake it. He cocks his head, smile still in place. “I’m Eddie, your emergency spider specialist.”  Steve still doesn’t say anything. Just watches as the guy—Eddie—rocks back on his heels.  Eddie clears his throat. “So…where is the little guy?” That finally shocks the words out of him. “He’s not little!” — (Steve moves to a new city and on his first night, he spots a giant spider above his bed. He doesn’t know anyone nearby who can come deal with it for him, so he opens Tinder and swipes right on everyone, copy pasting the same message to every match. Eddie responds.)

In The Heat Of The Night - M, 2.4k, complete @beetlesandstarss

tags: omegaverse, alpah eddie, omega steve, modern au, chat fic, idiots to lovers, a healthy dose of "didn't know they were dating"

eddie: DONT GO IN THE BATHROOM WHEN YUO GET BACK FROM WORK steve: What? Why? eddie: PERSONAL ITEM LEFT ON COUNTER just remembered steve: What, you got like a pussy-impersonator-3000 in there? eddie: ……. steve: YOU DO? eddie: well. it is not. called. That steve: I’m living with a pervert eddie: you are living with an ALPHA. and i am living with a kink-shamer 

over loved - E, 2.8k, complete @hawkinsbnbg

tags: transmasc steve, soft dom eddie, daddy kink, watersports, unsafe sex

Steve asked Eddie to shave his cunt for him.

pity hand-hold - T, 1.7k, complete mseg_21

tags: pre-steddie, hand holding, fluff

Steve finds himself wondering what it would feel like to hold them- Eddie’s hands or just a guy’s hand. He wonders how different it would be from holding Nancy’s hand or Heather’s or Kelly’s. Steve’s fingers itch to reach out and grab Eddie’s- find out if he likes rough hands as much as softer ones, if he likes long fingers as much as smaller ones, if he likes short chipped nails as much as long perfectly manicured ones. It’s not the first time he’s thought about it. It’s not even the first time he’s thought about it while staring at Eddie’s hands, but unlike those other times, Steve actually brings it up. “Have you ever held hands with a guy?” or Steve is curious about what it’s like to hold a guy’s hand so of course he asks Eddie for help

Baby love, our baby love - E, 5.7k, complete what_about_the_fish

tags: steddissy, sexual age play, little steve, age regression, daddy kink, mommy kink, polyamory

Eddie couldn’t help the way he felt watching his sweet baby girl play, it had always made him hard. Something about the way Steve played, with the kind of stress free bliss that he never saw on Steve's face when he was feeling big. Steve even smelt different like this, softer, sweeter, and the way he sounded, especially when Eddie touched him intimately was altogether unique.

I had been hungry, all the Years - E, 3/3, complete jamiethegardener

tags: steddissy, soulmate au, summer flings, getting together, steddie as soulmates

Steve is a sneaky little fucker. Smarter than he looks, because Chrissy called Eddie up and said that Steve told her they all needed to talk and that she should ask Eddie about it. “What do you think he wants?” she asked, and Eddie said, “He probably has a thing for you, Chris, just leave me out of it, I don’t need a broken nose,” and she said, “I don’t think he’s like that anymore, Eddie. Come with me? For moral support?” “Moral support?” Eddie said. “You know you’re talking to a Munson, right?” but here he is trailing behind Chrissy’s white Keds anyway. He should be grateful she hasn’t asked him to bark like a dog yet, he reflects. At least he still has some dignity.

the tattler - G, complete @hairmetal666

tags: school newspaper, fluff, getting together

No one knows who writes the Hawkins High Tattler. It comes out every week, without fail, has for almost two decades. Everyone reads it, even teachers, even parents. It's caused more the one suspension, grounding, and even--famously--a shipping off to boarding school. Steve's never let the Tattler get to him much. He's in it, of course, practically a new story every week. But it's just silly gossip.

My Kingdom For a Kiss Upon His Shoulder - G, 661, complete @steviewashere

tags: post-canon, fluff, non-sexual intimacy, established relationship

“Trade?” He asked, holding out a freshly baked cookie. It was a new hobby Steve had picked up and Eddie adored it. Not only did it put him in a cute, pastel blue, short apron; but it also made him produce baked goods from thin air all the time. He took up on baking as a means to put negative thoughts and energy at bay. It suited him. Made him especially domestic; especially sweet.

oh, baby baby - E, 3k, complete Chubbypeachhh

tags: morning sex, fluff and smut, pregnancy kink, mommy kink

“What were we having?” “A little girl,” Steve answers, the melancholy returning just a bit. It’s inexplicable, the feeling of missing a child he’ll never carry, but it’s there nonetheless. “I miss her,” he admits to Eddie, quietly into the softness of his skin.

Slowly Learning that Life is OK - T, 3.1k, complete (ao3) @runraerun

tags: nancy pov, established steddie, secret relationship

Nancy anguishes over having to tell Steve that she doesn’t feel the same way about him, but the last thing she wants to do is lead the poor guy on. So Nancy Wheeler goes to break Steve Harrington’s heart for what feels like the dozenth time, but when she arrives she’s surprised to find one Eddie Munson already there. And it becomes obvious fairly quickly that Nancy doesn’t have to say a damn thing because as it turns out, Steve’s heart isn’t even hers to break anymore. Or, Nancy finds out Steve and Eddie are boneing when she accidentally stumbles across their porno-Polaroid stash.

in a new light - T, 2.6k, complete @steddieas-shegoes

tags: body swap, chronic pain, friends (idiots) to lovers

Steve looked around the room before his eyes settled on his own hands. Eddie’s rings were on his fingers. He looked down at his arms, jumping at the sight of Eddie’s tattoos. Eddie’s pale skin. He rushed to the bathroom and looked in the mirror, ignoring a deep sense of dread taking over him. “What the fuck?” He asked out loud, only remembering that Wayne would be home at the last minute.

detours & second chances - T, 3.5k, complete (ao3) @steddieasitgoes

tags: post-canon, single dad steve, family vacations, reunions

The bell above their door announces their entrance to the quiet storefront as the sweet, sweet relief of the AC hits them. Steve closes his eyes, soaking in the cool air for a moment before Mabel and Ollie are tugging on his hands, trying to drag him in different directions. Steve knows he should put an end to their bickering that borders on full-on sibling bullying, especially judging by the way they’ve dropped his hand in favor of pinching each other’s arms, but he gets distracted when a figure emerges from the back of the shop. The footsteps are uneven, which makes sense when an ornate cane enters Steve’s line of sight. He studies it, taking in the impressive woodwork and paint job — Max’s own can is pretty spectacular, but this one is a close second. Soon, his eyes drift from the cane to the hand holding it, a ring on each finger. Silver and gaudy and eerily similar to— Or: When the Winnebago breaks down, Steve and his kids find themselves on an unexpected detour that leads him to a familiar face.

seven years - G, complete @hitlikehammers

tags: witsec eddie, established relationship, reunions

We can’t both go, Steve reasons, though the sound of it’s harsh, reluctant and filled with premature longing that’s maybe not premature, given that this thing they have grew so strong and certain so fucking fast—but Steve’s heart’s in his throat so hard that Eddie can hear it, and Eddie knew that would be the answer, because they’ve touched on the point and solved it for themselves: they’d leave Hawkins like everyone else, when the kids were grown, when they got out. When there was no one else to make sure got out safe. Steve always pulled up the rear, held the door open before it slammed shut, made them climb through the gates and watched their backs always: never left before everyone was evaced in front of him first. And Eddie wasn’t leaving Steve, so. Easy answer. Except: now.

One. Big. Step. - G, complete @medusapelagia

tags: touch-starved eddie, pre-steddie, fluff

The anticipation is what makes Eddie antsy.  When someone starts to walk toward him, his heart starts beating faster and louder, his ears buzz, his breathing gets too accelerated (air hunger, as his mom used to call it), and he begins to sweat, profusely, leaving a dark damp stain under the armpit of his t-shirts, which is the main reason he always wears black t-shirts. Or t-shirts with black sleeves.  When the person walking toward him is Steve the Hair Harrington, well, it's even worse. 

liquor talks - M, 875, complete @steddieas-shegoes

tags: drunken love confessions, mutual pining, first kiss

The back door opened and closed and Eddie slipped inside, the cool night air wafting off of him as he sat down in the chair behind Steve. Steve was hot. He should cool off. He sat down in Eddie’s lap and sighed with relief, wiping sweat from his forehead. Eddie’s hands were resting on the arms of the chair, his legs tense under Steve’s. “You feel nice,” Steve said, relaxing completely against him, curling into a ball in Eddie’s lap. “Good.”

gazing at the stars in your eyes - G, 2k, complete (ao3) @flowercrowngods

tags: late night love confessions, mutual pining, stargazing, yearning

Eddie fell in love with Steve at night. Over the course of many walks in the dark, strolls around Hawkins because they both just needed to move, get away for a while, chase the sensation of running away together. Eddie fell in love with the line of Steve’s jaw and the smile on his lips, the reflection of the moon in those dark eyes as Steve looked up and looked so calm. So serene. Almost at home, with the stars in his eyes. In which Steve watches the stars, Eddie watches Steve, and they both wish for the same thing.

jailhouse rock - G, complete @corrodedbisexual

tags: modern au, meet-cute, steve gets arrested

Steve shouldn’t even be here; he got arrested for shoplifting, but it was all a misunderstanding. He was actually trying to prevent a shoplifting when he saw a couple of kids stuffing chocolate bars into their jacket pockets. They bolted, and he chased after them; unfortunately, he was still holding a bottle of (rather expensive) wine in hand as he did that, so he ended up the perceived cause of the blaring store alarm while the two shitheads escaped with zero consequences. The store’s got security cameras. So it will probably be fine, right? It will all be resolved soon enough. Steve just has to wait. What makes him more nervous is the guy he’s sharing the cell with.

from the ashes - T, complete @hitlikehammers

tags: final battle, temporary character death

If all that's left of Steve in the final battle is ashes... are they really just ashes?

All You Have Is Your Fire - E, 5k, complete @wormdebut

tags: modern au, barista steve, tattoo artist eddie, light angst with a happy ending

Eddie fumbled his way into Rise and Grind, the poor coffee shop had the disservice of being neighbors with Convicted Ink. He truly wasn't sure how to even order this shit, but if getting his shitty boss and his little minions caffeine was going to get him into a fucking chair to actually tattoo, fine. It was fine. ---- Or, Eddie is an apprentice at a terrible tattoo shop and the only thing that keeps him sane, is the pretty barista at the coffee shop next door.

what weather they shall have is not ours to rule - M, 4/4, complete misprinting

tags: bdsm au, slow burn, non-sexual kink, canon compliant, body horror

rec notes: yall please PLEASE read this fic (and leave a comment.) the world building fucks SO HARD (no pun intended) and the entire premise is so interesting and cool. i don't think i've ever read a bdsm au before and i don't think i'll be able to after this bc my expectations are so high now klsfjgldkfjgf

Steve doesn't consciously keep a list of the things he hates just under his tongue, but it’s there. He hates orange juice because of his dad. He hates the Gates because they won't close. He hates not knowing what he'll do with himself when Robin goes away to college at the end of the summer, leaving him on his own, a loose end, nothing. He hates being single and he hates the Upside Down and he hates the postcards his parents send and he hates how the kids are old enough to get tested and he hates driving up the road to his house and— And he hates the itch he gets in his brain, once every three or four weeks. The one that says, ‘You belong on your knees.’ It can’t be ignored. He only knows one way to make it stop.

Trespassing - G, complete @pearynice

tags: modern au, fluff, eddie takes care of steve, steddie love month

Love is being known

Phantom Thief - T, series, WIP @just-my-latest-hyperfixation

tags: magic au, thief eddie, guard steve, enemies to lovers

In the end, it’s just the two of them again.  Steve jumps over another groaning pile of half-conscious guards and bursts out onto the roof, cold night air slapping him in the face and making the cape of his uniform whip.  “Munson!” he barks. 

this campfire won't last forever - G, 10k, complete @hexiewrites

tags: no upside down au, summer camp, 5+1, fluff, getting together

Steve, Program Director of Camp Know Where, was expecting it to be a summer like any other. A summer filled with activities, swimming and canoe trips and quiet evening nights around the campfire. He was expecting it to be a summer of fun and friends and, frankly, the usual. What he wasn't expecting was for the last-minute music head replacement to come crashing into his life, and change everything. Or: Five summer nights full of sparkling possibility, and the one night when it explodes into something real.

The Last In Line - M, 13/13, complete @xiaq

tags: time travel, fix-it, defeating vecna in 1983, bamf steve, the party as a family

“Sorry,” Steve says. “I’m sorry, I know this doesn’t make any sense to you, but can I just–” Eddie lets him approach, this time. Lets him reach out to touch, to curl his fingers in the hem of Eddie’s shirt. “Sorry, I know I probably sound crazy, I just––” he pulls it up, stares at Eddie’s side, and then lets out a hysterical little noise that sounds like a cross between a laugh and a sob. “You’re ok,” Steve says. His fingers are hot on Eddie’s skin, pressed light and shockingly reverent to the space between his hip and rib cage. “You’re ok,” he repeats. It sounds like he’s trying to convince himself. “Hey,” Eddie says. It comes out more breathless than he’d prefer but Steve fucking Harrington has him backed against a wall in a bathroom with his hands up Eddie’s shirt so he thinks a little lack of air is warranted. “Are you ok?” The fingers on his abdomen flex. "No,” Steve says. His eyes are wide and fathomless and the look on his face is terrible. “No, I’m not even remotely ok.”

We're Just (Boy) Friends - E, 5.3k, complete Mischiefediting

tags: vampire eddie munson, idiot4idiot, mutual pining, god they're so stupid in this (affectionate)

Steve nods, wiping the excess off the nail polish wand again and dragging it over Eddie's index nail "How do you kiss with them?" He asks causally, Eddie's brows raise "How do I what?" He blinks rapidly, “Kiss with them." Steve restates, eyes darting to look at Eddie for a fraction of a second "Like do you accidentally bite or.." Or.. The group is back from the upside down with an undead Eddie who needs a place to hide, obviously Steve’s is the only option. The two become wrapped up in many questionable situations while clearly pining for each other but also, equally not that bright.

You Make Me Live Now, Honey - E, 15k, complete GrasshopperKatie

tags: post canon, road trip, background ronance

Eddie loves the little idiots, but he’s thankful that it’s just Robin, Steve and himself on this trip. Steve is stressed enough about a cross country road trip without adding that he would have to take care of seven children on top of that. Nancy has provided them the perfect opportunity for an escape. She’s been attending classes at Emerson for two months now and invited them out to spend Halloween weekend at her place. They all jumped on the idea of getting out of Hawkins for a few days.

bring me a dream - T, 3.4k, complete sailors_ink

tags: post canon, mind control, open ending

The song is slow, coiling behind his ear and gently drifting down his shoulders, making him shiver. He thinks he should know the music, humming along to it as the guitar starts to get louder. It feels nice, a comforting chill down his back that eases the tension of his wounds. His wounds. Robin. Robin, his bat bites still hurt, why does it hurt so much, what's - Oh, he thinks as the music plays even louder in his ear, in his mind, that's not the radio.

butter, sugar, and northern mockingbirds - E, 3/3, complete @thefreakandthehair | througheden

tags: post-canon, baker steve, mutual pining, getting together

“Holy shit, Steve, this cookie has no right to be this good,” Eddie praises, cookie crumbs stuck to the corner of his lips. “What did you put in this? Drugs? Is it drugs? I feel like it could be drugs, they’re that good.” It’s not the first time he’s felt these proverbial butterfly wings flapping against the inside of his ribs. Every time they’re alone together, every time their shoulders graze or eyes meet, every time Steve sees Eddie smile with that stupid dimple that not even the slashing scar across his cheek can hide, the little thing with wings that’s taken up residence close enough to his heart to set it alight goes insane. He should know how to handle the feeling by now, but he doesn’t. Or, Steve Harrington, Robin Buckley, and Eddie Munson open Steve's secret dream bakery after surviving the Vecnapocalypse. Eddie can't seem to stop getting flour in his hair, Steve can't stop touching him, and Robin might lose her mind.

it's enough (to make a girl blush) - E, 1/?, WIP (ao3) @yearningagain | hellfireprez

tags: modern au, omegaverse, baker steve, rockstar eddie, true mates, background buckingham

Then, all of a sudden, everything felt wrong. It was as if he was floating away from his body, his mind a balloon escaping a child's loose clutch. He couldn't smell the alpha, just his own scent turning sour and rotten. The cool sensation of the man's rings where they pressed into bare skin suddenly spread all over, no longer comforting, but as if ice water had engulfed him. Something nagged at him, though, in the back of his mind. Something like a spark, settling into the omega and igniting coals to keep him warm and happy. And Steve opened his eyes. OR Steve and Eddie are soulmates and the universe sends them wet dreams about it.

[morrieandlicky]

Edward Carpenter's full response letter to E.M. Forster after reading Maurice in 1914.

(The images of the letter can be found here at King's College's archive. Below is my transcription followed by photocopies of the letter. )

PS: 1) "MS" is the abbreviation for "manuscript".

23 Aug. [1914?]

My dear & blessed E.M.,

(I wish you had a name. Why do you always hide behind initials? What do your friends call you? My name is Edward, or ‘chips’!)

I have read your ‘Maurice’ after all, and am very much pleased with it. I don’t always like your rather hesitating tantalizing impressionist style - though it has subtleties - but I think the story has many fine points. You succeed in joining the atmosphere with the various characters, and there are plenty of happenings which is a good thing. Maurice’s love affairs are all interesting, and I have a mind to read them again, if I can find time - so I won’t send the MS back for a day or two. I am so glad you end up on a major chord. I was so afraid you were going to let Scudder go at the last - but you saved him and saved the story, because the end though improbable is not impossible and is the one bit of real romance - which those who understand will love.

I wish I could write more, but I am devoured just now by innumerable things. I expect to be in and about London from the 1st to 8th Sep. - so give me a cue to see you.

Your Edward C.

Transcription of vertical writings on the second page of the letter: 

I am sending my birthday reply to the papers on Sep. 1 with a lot about the war in it. 

Only a small part of the letter has been transcribed then included in reviews, or different Maurice editions. Which is why I wanted to transcribe the whole response from the real-life Maurice to the author of fictional Maurice after he read Maurice. The entirety is far more interesting.

Below: Edward Carpenter in 1886 and 1897.

Some contexts: based on Forster's diaries, Maurice was first finished in June/July, 1914, so Carpenter did read the first complete MS—with or without the epilogue is unclear since there's no solid proof for when the epilogue was written (though it appeared in the novel by February 1915 at the latest.)

However, since Carpenter said he liked the happy ending he read (and fun fact: the first complete MS which he read actually had a fairly different ending between Maurice and Alec than the published version's), we know that even from the first draft, Forster remained unwavering about how a happy ending is imperative.

More contexts: according to a letter from Forster to a friend, he thought Carpenter was "too unliterary to be helpful"—meaning Carpenter probably wasn't much interested in reading literature. And Carpenter sort of confirmed that in writing "I read your 'Maurice' after all", implying he was indeed reluctant to read at first.

Still, it made absolute sense for Forster to send the story back to the man who, in a manner of speaking, held the copyright of Maurice in flesh before Forster even finished it.

So the question is: did Carpenter know that Maurice was inspired by him and his lover George Merrill? Did he know that he was the real-life Maurice and Merrill was the real-life Alec? Perhaps that was why he was reluctant to read the novel at first?

[lujingheswife]

i’ll find you, you’ll find me.

summary: you found yourself in the world of haikyuu, and spent time with your favourite character.

featuring: your favourite character!

word count: 1536

cw: gn!reader, you teleported into the world of haikyuu, happy ending, angsty in between but i’m a fluff writer so dont worry, intentional lowercase, not proofread

author’s notes: wrote this in june 2020 !! found it in my drafts so might as well publish it hehe

_________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐

it hadn't been long since you found yourself in another dimension — the haikyuu dimension. it felt like a dream to you, yet whatever you did you just wouldn't wake up.

was it really real? you thought to yourself, pacing around your fictional room not missing the sight of your uniform in front of you.

every haikyuu fan has a favourite character, just like you. you were indeed surprised at the sight of the uniform of your favourite school hanging neatly against the wall. sighing, you had no choice but to wear your uniform and head to school.

you realized your character was simply an average student in the school, so you need not to care about your popularity or loneliness. you were curious as it seemed to be your first day of school since it was the start of a new school year. since you're a first year, you didn't have to worry about friends.

yet your curiosity overwhelmed you and your legs automatically found their way towards the school's volleyball gym. before you could process your head, a familiar voice called out to you, “hello there.”

your head snapped up as your gaze met a pair of familiar eyes, one you had always admired his appearance on screen. it felt like a dream, realizing your favourite character actually talking to you — in front of you — in your favourite anime dimension. or was it really a dream...?

“hello?”

you flinched, shaking your head furiously before stuttering a reply, “h-hello! i'm sorry — u-uhm, is it okay if i apply as a team manager?”

again, you totally did not think twice before uttering that sentence.

he stared at you with curiosity, his gaze not breaking away from yours. after an unexpected staring competition, he smiled. “sure — i'll get the form immediately,” he replied. afterwards he lead you into the gym, showing you around on the way to fetch the application form introducing himself at the same time.

‘of course i know who you are,’ you thought to yourself. your eyes never left his figure, admiring his profile. for the nth time, you felt like it was a dream

he looked much more attractive up close.

☾ ⋆ * ･ ゚: ⋆ * ･ ゚: ✧ * ⋆. *: ･ ﾟ ✧ .: ⋆ * ･ ゚: .⋆ ☾

what seemed like weeks passed by and you were still in the same dimension, not once waking up to reality. the topic of being in a dream that once worried you seemed to have been forgotten by you, as if you truly belonged in the dimension you found yourself into. slowly, your relationship with him developed further and you became a pair.

you once looked at him for being so good looking, a personality that you loved, born with talent and bonus point for being your favourite fictional character. now looking at the sleeping boyfriend in front of you with his head rested on his crossed arms, you brought out a hand as you reached out, gently grazing his cheek with the back of your index finger.

you loved everything about him.

“if i were from a different dimension, how would you react?” you asked in a whisper, careful not to stir him awake. you looked around your surroundings, the quiet library where your boyfriend would accompany you study once every week; the scenery through the tinted windows with the muffled sounds of pouring rain cutting the usual silence; and the man you wished had not been a fictional character sleeping with inaudible snores, including the visible bags under his eyes from practicing.

there were very few students today, as they quietly studied for the upcoming finals. months had passed since you found yourself in the dimension away from reality, you never once returned and you had nearly forgotten about it.

“i don't want to wake up from this — if only you weren't fictional, and if only we were meant to be together in the same world,” you whispered as a cracked sob escaped from your lips that couldn't help but quiver at the memories you had with him.

looking at how peaceful your boyfriend looked, you had to smile as a tear managed to escape. you softly called out to his name, the name you wished you could call forever, adding an “i love you” to finish the sentence.

at the end of the day, he couldn't get your words out of his head. he heard everything, and he wanted to talk to you about it.

he never wanted to lose you either.

☾ ⋆ * ･ ゚: ⋆ * ･ ゚: ✧ * ⋆. *: ･ ﾟ ✧ .: ⋆ * ･ ゚: .⋆ ☾

tomorrow marked one year since you arrived in the fictional dimension. you were currently in his room, relaxing on his bed as he did his homework. was it the right time to talk about it? you pondered. it was rare for you to be quiet in times like this, and he probably figured out what you were thinking.

“when did you arrive here?” he asked, snapping you out of your endless thoughts leaving you in confusion.

“what do you mean?” you replied, “didn't you invite me here this morning?”

he brought his eyes to gaze into yours. “i mean, this dimension — the one you said fictional.”

his words caught you by surprise, making you wonder when did he found out. “how did you—”

“i'm sorry,” he replied, “i overheard you mentioning it that day in the library..”

it was when you finally realized — tomorrow would mark one year since you found yourself in the haikyuu dimension. now thinking about it, anxiety slowly rised into your head.

what if tonight would mark the last night for you to spend your time here?

your shaky pupils met his worrying ones. “are you okay?” he asked worriedly, rising from his seat to approach your trembling figure. you couldn't help but watch as his arms wrapped themselves around you, pulling you closer to him in an embrace. the tears wanting to escape began pouring out, dripping from your cheeks as they fell between him and you.

‘i don't want to leave.’

‘please don't leave.’

you didn't know how long had it been since you stayed in the same position, holding each other close. with a shaky breath, you began explaining everything; how you found yourself in the dimension and the world you originally belonged — the reality you had to face.

“maybe this would be the last day for me to be here,” you whispered.

he stayed quiet the whole time, not knowing what to say after hearing your explanations. he tried to process your words one by one, wanting to believe such a miracle exist for him and you.

he held you tighter in his arms as he called out to your name, repeating them before finding his tears overflowing as they streamed down his cheeks.

“i promise you,” he began, “i promise you, that i'll find you in our next life. i may be a fictional character in your world, and you will disappear from my world one day, but that won't change a thing. i love you, i love you and i love you —”

he pulled away from you, allowing some space in between as he cupped your face. slowly and gently, he tilted your face up to face him. he could only stare into your glassy eyes, still glistening from the tears. “i promise that in our next life, i'll find you and you'll find me.”

you smiled. “i promise that in our next life, i'll find you and you'll find me.” you repeated his words as your pinkies intertwined into a pinky promise.

you spent your night in his arms, talking about the possible future you might have in your next life, and recalling the memories you shared with him in his world.

the next morning, you were gone in his arms — as if you never existed in first place.

☾ ⋆ * ･ ゚: ⋆ * ･ ゚: ✧ * ⋆. *: ･ ﾟ ✧ .: ⋆ * ･ ゚: .⋆ ☾

as you tried to chase after your pet, it stopped right in front of a stranger as it clung onto him lovingly. “i-i'm sorry! i hope it doesn't cause you any trouble,” you panted, stopping next to it as you bowed deeply in front of the stranger who didn't utter a word.

“s-sir?” you called out, confused at his silence. you stood straight as you met the gaze of the familiar looking stranger who stared at you with wide eyes.

as if everything crashed upon you, you stared at him in surprise, your heart aching at the lingering familiarity upon your first meeting.

‘i found you.’

you had never met him before, yet why were you crying?

you both began to walk together as you exchanged greetings and numbers, your pet leading the way towards where it wanna be. what was important, though, was that you both recalled a certain memory from a previous life.

“i promise that in our next life, i'll find you and you'll find me.”

_________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐

[chronicsyd]

yea, we ALL know why I'M here at this point (like most people i waited All Night for this thing) but Enough Yapping, let's do this! (go watch it first, I'll be doing an Excessive deep dive of this thing (I also had a couple of drafts I've made in the last 48 hours talking about certain worries I've seen from the fandom about season 2, but decided to lay off posting about it until the trailer came out so I'll be addressing some of those in a later post as well), and as always, leakers will be blocked and deleted).

SO, with All That outta the way, let's get into it: Firstly, i was left Completely Speechless by this whole thing like HOLY SHIT! i don't even know What to SAY! Yes we've had a few repeat scenes from the old teaser and clips but obviously the new stuff's what I'm more interested in.

The trailer opens up with Vi admitting to Caitlyn that she was right and saying "My sister is gone. there's only Jinx now." which is something that I've been speculating about since June (well the "there's only Jinx and Jinx is the one that needs to be stopped" thing), so we've already had a clear cut path where Vi is concerned. BUT what interests me is that first part of the conversation is still part of when she's talking to her in her Enforcer Uniform, so her head's probably telling her that stopping Jinx is the right thing to do here after what happened with the Council.

I also don't think I've mentioned this in a post, but I've also had speculation that the person in the hood from the teaser was Jinx not Viktor (just things like how the shoulder width didn't seem to match him but the one second clip we got of him i wasn't able to cross-reference all that well, also the monkey painting in the background added to that factor) but it seems like the show is reenforcing that this is Jinx here.

I've also somehow underestimated just HOW unhinged Caitlyn's going to be this season. like "I want to tear that laugh from her throat forever." is a Crazy line like Jesus Cait!

But what sticks out to me about this scene is not only the fact that Vi's very clearly crying here, you can tell not only by the length of her hair but the fact that the black seems to be somewhat fading means that she spends quite a bit of time hiding out in Zaun (downright Confirming about my thoughts of a timeskip from my last post). Now of course we don't have the context about what she's crying about but it seems like she's just overall frustrated about her situation. But another thing that actually pops up later in the trailer is that Vi actually still has her hair like this,

which means that I actually might be wrong about Vi being in Zaun before she's even in her Enforcer getup with Caitlyn. it seems to me that this whole thing with Vi wearing black actually happens after she fights against Jinx in the temple, perhaps thinking that being an Enforcer and in Piltover with Caitlyn isn't the right choice for her and tries to go about life her own way for a while (which is probably the thing we're "going to hate" when it comes to Caitvi).

Now, the next part of the trailer is what they already showed us with Caitlyn and Jinx talking to Ambessa and Sevika so i don't need to go over that again. However right after that, Sevika asks Jinx what she's planning.

Jinx's response? "to watch it all burn". Whether or not if Piltover recovers from Fishbones doesn't seem to matter to her, she wants everything to burn to the ground. But just a side note the way she's looking at the match in this frame very clearly reminds her of Silco, and still going by the streaked makeup, it's still a fresh wound for her.

now, this frame?

I don't actually have any solid answers for. by the look in Vi's eyes, I'm presuming she's reaching out to either Jinx, Caitlyn, or Ekko. She's not wearing her Enforcer getup here (at least it doesn't look like what she's been wearing) and i can't solidly place the background, there isn't any familiar landmarks sticking out to me. But Vi's hair and bandages make me think that this is probably when she's just starting to come out of hiding here.

There seems to be a bunch of Undercity riots happening against Piltover, which i think is a factor where Ambessa tells Caitlyn that "in order to restore peace you have to enact Martial Law". I could be wrong about this but honestly i don't think I am.

Warwick looks just as fantastic as ever, but they haven't really given us any clear cut answers on how they're planning to utilize him besides being a living weapon for Singed. Singed says "you felt it, haven't you?" but it's rather unclear who he's talking to here, i don't think he's talking to Warwick, i think he might actually be talking to Viktor and talking about the Hexcore and the Arcane and such because of Viktor's "glorious evolution" path.

Now to the part of the Trailer that COMPLETELY confuses me...

someone says "the Arcane is waking up", NO idea who's saying this or who it's being said TO, NO idea who These people are supposed to be, I just-- yea this is the only part of the trailer that I'm at a Complete loss for words. The Arcane is magic we all know that, it's what Jayce's whole thing has been about, mixing magic and technology together into Hextech. but this is implying that while Jayce was doing all this the Arcane itself was just... slumbering? i guess. like are these people going to turn out to be mages because of this or something? idk, see, endless list of questions but Absolutely no answers. let's just move on before my brain explodes trying to figure this out.

I skipped a few repeat scenes (like the ones of Caitlyn and the other enforcers against the Chemtanks because I've already talked about it), and put a pin on the Ekko scene i skipped I'm coming back to it.

SO, it turns out we were right in claiming that Jinx loses her middle finger with the art book cover, and I'm Pretty sure that Caitlyn actually shoots it off (which probably explains the "WTF CAITLYN?!" comment i was talking about with addressing the leaks). Also this is like, the Most psychotic I think I've ever seen Jinx like Jesus Christ do NOT leave me alone in a room with her!

Ekko says "sometimes taking a leap foward means leaving some things behind"; maybe he's talking about the past? I don't know who he's talking to here specifically, it may just be giving advice to Vi, seeing as we do see the two working together later in the trailer after Vi's hair is grown out.

Now, I'm going to go a wee bit out of order here for a moment, just because I'm saving something for last.

I was Completely right about Vi facing off against Warwick at some point (i was basically Screaming "Chekov's gun!" for months when Warwick was confirmed), But Vi's still in her Undercity getup here, so I don't know if she's recognizable to him at all here, if this has to do with the illegal fighting ring that she's doing, but the dust seems to kinda go against that, like it's not a "now for our main event!" smokey kinda entrance, if you catch my drift here.

I can't tell if this is supposed to be a flashback of Powder or not because the other person is extremely hard to place, like it looks kind of like Sevika's new hair it's just that the lighting is so dark you can't make out their face. and if its a flashback to the age that Powder was in the opening shot the clothes don't seem to match, like there are things that contradict each other that doesn't make the scene clear cut to me.

Now this frame basically confirms something I've had on my mind, I just never made a post about. and that was my concern that Caitlyn was going to get herself hurt by these Chemtanks. the reason for that being we only saw her going against these things with her rife (and not the Hextech one). Vi and Jayce could handle themselves back in episode 8 because they had the Hammer and Gauntlets, but every other Enforcer there with a rifle was Easily taken out. and Arcane doesn't really go about the "simple plot armor" route, so i saw this ending not very well for her, despite being a good marksman.

And of course we only get another ONE SECOND clip of Viktor to prove he's alive that doesn't even Show His Face! like we Know this is him, and the gem in his wrist seems to imply that he's already going down the "glorious evolution" path here.

I don't have anything to say about this other than i have NO idea what it's supposed to be and that its Freaky looking. Like it kinda reminds me of Silco for some reason, like i don't think its supposed to but that's where my heads leaning for some reason.

Now, does it seem like I've left something out? It's because I did.

What these shots in particular are telling me is that Ambessa actually turns on Caitlyn (because I claimed that earlier in the season Caitlyn actually allies herself with Ambessa and i still believe that to be true) and tries to take over Piltover, because in the shot of Ambessa she's clearly hitting Enforcers, not people of the Undercity, and Caitlyn and Vi are wearing matching outfits here (Vi also reminds me of the ironhulk from Infinity War with this thing) meaning that the two are still working together here, but there is one little thing that I did leave out talking about these shots.

I can totally see this being a chaotic fight between the Undercity, the Enforcers, and Noxus, because Jinx is clearly still in Piltover during this shot. Now Jinx says "then stop me." during this but its definitely a spliced line i don't think she's saying it during this scene and I do believe that she's probably talking to Vi here (and maybe my ears are playing tricks on me but it kinds sounds "echoey" so it's probably from the temple fight). but can we talk about the Purple in her hair now? like despite having a hood on, That's Badass!

Edit: NOPE! I lied, I have a couple more things to point out.

Caitlyn blows up Jinx in this shot, which if I'm right about Vi being an Enforcer before going underground this is gonna cause some Serious issues between the two (because despite saying "my sister is gone" I don't believe that Vi would want an attempt at her sisters life, another pointer in the "thing we're going to hate with Caitvi" oy-vey...). When I mentioned Caitlyn probably being the one shooting off Jinx's finger earlier, i didn't also think about that final shot of Caitlyn from the teaser being right before what happens here. Because we already knew that Caitlyn was apart of this fight, just didn't dawn how drastically this fight is probably going to turn out. Because the explosion is all glowey like that Because Caitlyn's using her Hextech rifle in this scene, and it functions more in the way Jayce's Hammer does than Vi's gauntlets do.

So I'm not exactly sure when this fight scene is taking place, I don't think it's the temple fight, despite what little i can gather from the background, it doesn't seem to quite match the temple, and i think Vi and Caitlyn are still alone during that specific fight (could be wrong but that's just what they've shown as of right now) and I'm seeing Vi as shooting a rocket, blowing up the building that Sevika and Caitlyn were standing next to. it's also hard to name the expression that Jinx is wearing right after this, but it's clear that she was at least part of this fight as well.

Ok, NOW I'm done! I promise! I spent the last TWO HOURS on this thing since the trailer dropped and I'll most likely be spamming about it more if/when i suddenly get new thoughts about it. But that's all for now, bye! (I'M SO EXCITED FOR NOVEMBER AHHH WHY CAN'T IT GET HERE FAST ENOUGH?!)

[isalisewrites]

Hello! I saw your posts about JKR's bad writing and my eyes were opened! How do you feel about JKR constantly repeating concepts? For eg. in book 4, she highlights the mudblood concept more than necessary. She has to spell out why the Malfoys don't like Hermione when it should be obvious by now. She has to say mudblood is an offensive slur when Draco calls Hermione that in the forest when this was literally done in book 2!

Yooooo, this is a GREAT question. This is such a good issue to look into and to watch out for as a writer, especially if you're trying to write original works. I think this is a great topic for the next post because this is something writers can easily do by mistake. I know FOR SURE I've likely done this for multiple concepts in my own work, especially Terrible, But Great since I've been writing it for over two years now. It's so easy to forget.

In the case of JKR, I suspect it's carelessness or forgetfulness. Chamber of Secrets was published in 1998 and Goblet of Fire was published in 2000... Hang on a minute... Pardon me for going on a tangent, but--

HP1 word count: 76k. Published June 1997

HP2 word count: 85k. Published July 1998

HP3 word count: 107k. Published July 1999

HP4 word count: 190k. Published July 2000

HP5 word count: 257k. Published June 2003

HP6 word count: 168k. Published July 2005

HP7 word count: 198k. Published July 2007

Oh, god. I just learned something today. Well, all right then, there's our reason. THIS is the reason why the writing isn't as strong as it could be in the Harry Potter series. It's because she was writing a book per year for the first four books. I remember her talking about getting stuck for HP5 and that was why it had the largest time difference.

She was rushing the drafting process. I bet she did very little self editing at this pace. You just can't if you're writing a book per year.

Fucking hell, no wonder.

Okay. Quick side tip to all my writing buddies. Yall, don't rush, okay? It's okay to push yourself to reach goals, but don't overdo it. The drafting process is important, but giving yourself the time and space to edit your work will always help you grow as a writer.

Anyway, OP, this was a great topic to bring up and I think I'll go into much further depth with it in the next post of the series. Thank you for this ask!

[randomshipperhere]

Ai Mikaze Song Rant

!!🧹CLEANING OUT DRAFTS WRITTEN IN LIKE 2021. Posted as is last written🧹!!

that may or may not be an essay but since its structure is completely off, I opted to call it a rant.

Also Ai looks mighty fine in that outfit. Ver. A has him sticking his tongue out. So cute!!

Note: this is a long overdue post that was made prior to the release of the album, I have not changed anything within this because dammit my past self worked her ass off on this and just left it on the backburner for so long.

Before the next batch of Quartet Night Solo Songs get released this year (oh my god its been 3-4 years since the last ones) I wanted to write down the charm of Ai's songs and I hope the trend somewhat continues.

There are a total of 6 songs released since 2012 and each song also has it's own take on love.

There are a total of 6 songs released since 2012 and each song also has it's own take on love.

Winter Blossom: Parting of a loved one

A.I: Being and feeling loved

Futari no Monogram: Understanding oneself

Innocent Wind: The Warmth of Love

Mune no Kodou: Understanding Love

Synchronism: Playful, and a smidge bit sensual. Looks like the love arc is complete if you catch my drift

And now let's look at the song list:

うたの☆プリンスさまっ♪ アイドルソング嶺二＆藍

Uta no☆Purinsu-sama♪ Aidoru Songu Reiji & Ai

Track 02: Winter Blossom

August 22, 2012

Idol Song: Mikaze Ai

01: A. I

02: Futari no Monogram

June 25, 2014

マジLOVEレボリューションズアイドルソング 美風 藍

Maji LOVE Reboryuushonzu Aidoru Songu Mikaze Ai

01: Innocent Wind

02: Mune no Kodou

April 29, 2015

うたの☆プリンスさまっ♪ アイドルソング蘭丸＆藍

Uta no☆Purinsu-sama♪ Aidoru Songu Ranmaru & Ai

03: Synchronism

May 24, 2017

Now why does the second part matter? Well to me, if you put them together. Arrange by release date and track number, it almost sounds like a story on its own.

A person who has lost a loved one and forgot what the feeling felt like (Winter Blossom) until they discovered someone who could possibly mend their broken heart and understand the concept of "Ai" (A. I).

After finding this someone, they want to better themselves, become more reliable, someone who could be deserving of that love (Futari no Monogram). That love is returned to them and it feels a bit too much, but they're grateful that this person continues to stay by their side, despite being "broken" (Innocent Wind).

Like any relationship though, it was not just meant to be a sunshine filled story, they got into fights and arguements but that never deterred them from loving each other. Even during the moments they felt down or when he was scared of the passage of time, still uncertain about love, they still stuck with each other through thick and thin. And to understand these overflowing emotions, he wrote it into a song, a ballad, that sung the wishes of normal lovers and how with them, he can understand love. That he too, has that "something" on his chest (Mune no Kodou).

This emotional beat is followed by a happy and relaxing, definitely no underlying desires song about love (Synchronism).

being vague about the last one since I'll explain in each solo segment.

I think you guys get what I mean about the songs tying together to form a story by now right? Which is amazing to me, even if they most likely didn't do it on purpose, it gives a new meaning to listening to Ai's songs. Which make it even more fun to listen to.

So now onto each song and it's significance.

Winter Blossom

The first song by Ai is still as sad and beautiful as the first time I read the english translation~ I cried. This is a very straightforward song. They shared their last moments in winter.

To hide our kiss, we draw closer together to share warmth

and he wishes to God that he could feel the same emotions as her. She's about to go and he knows this, and he doesn't want to forget so he tries to stop his tears. He wants to remember this. Timeskip and he's all alone now with these memories. He doesn't think it's bad, no matter how sad it was, and yet he could only think about what else he could've done. He feels like he understands now, and he tells the words "I love you" even if she wasn't there, and his voice is only heard by the wind. He remembers the moment one last time, and makes a promise.

It's a tragedy that he only figured out what love is after she died. The song really moves me to tears. The hopeful message at the end is really nice and gives the listener a sense of encouragement.

A. I

Just lovers out on a vacation by the seaside. It starts off with him asking

“At what percentage does it become ‘love’?”

The night grows nearer, as you two get closer, and yet all he can feel is uncertainty. Unsure whether his feelings would reach or if he could ever truly express what he feels. Insecure about his own name, one he even called poor, you show him that there is a meaning to "AI". This fills him with happiness and he sees you as someone he can turn to, his warmth. He gives you a kiss. For now, in this moment, you will enjoy the time spent together, even if in the future you may fight. For now, even if he can't express to you all his feelings, the one word you taught him is enough. I love you.

I've always loved the play on words for A.I (artificial intelligence), Ai (love), and Ai (name) used for the song. See I don't understand Japanese writing much but I really wish I did. From what little I know it's amazing to see that Ai uses katakana アイ throughout the song. Katakana is used for loan words or when you want to emphasize something. So him using アイ instead of 愛 emphasizes that he REALLY doesn't understand "Ai". If you look through the wiki, there are like, 5 instances of the katakana being used. First is in the line highlighted above. Another is in "I want to confirm it, this thing you call ‘love’/tashikametai yo kimi no iu 'ai'" and the most important one. The last line of the song.

I ‘love’ you… I love you

AI shiteru... aishiteru

アイしてる…[[愛]]してる

He actually learns what it means you guys. I'm proud of him. Another line that really got me in this song is when he keeps peppering you kisses because he was anxious. Baby, no, I won't leave you. I swear! Even if it takes time for you to understand, I won't let go!

Futari no Monogram

Innocent Wind

Mune no Kodou

Synchronism

Actually, while I was writing this down, I realized that most of his songs have an emphasis on warmth and the sun.

Winter Blossom

To hide our kiss, we draw closer together to share warmth

These memories aren’t bad, they transform into warmth

A. I

Your hand held in mine is so warm

Your warmth, this tender sunny spot is my gentle place to return to

Innocent Wind

By the tenderness of your warmth

This warmth is beyond even words…

Also the word embrace

(Winter Blossom, Futari no Monogram, Innocent Wind)

and hand holding

he's cold you guys

.

Rant over!

Waaaaa I'm not sure I even did him justice since half the time I couldn't word out what I want to say but hopefully it made some sort of sense???? I just really love him and his songs that I just kinda word vomitted everything.

Also was it super obvious that I adore Mune no Kodou to bits?! I could talk about how that's my favorite song all day because FUCK it's just THAT good.

[footprintsinthesxnd]

Loving Her Was Red

Summary: Now that war has begun there are some major changes for Dick and Lois, and as D-Day approaches can they endure. Warnings: unrequited love, D-Day, themes of war, injury.

I’m finally posting the last few parts of this series as they have been sat completed in my drafts for months so I thought I’d get them out here. I’m not sure if many people are still following this story but i put lots of work into finishing this series at the start of the year so here it is.

D-Day

June 3rd 1944, Milton Hall, Peterborough

“Well Lois, here’s to you. You saved our asses out there,” Ray clinked his glass of whiskey with Lois first, then with Raoul, who sat smoking his cigar in silence.

“I was just doing my job, Ray,” Lois reassured them, relaxing back in the armchair by the fire. She had quickly become firm friends with Ray, he reminded her of a lot of men from Easy Company, whereas Raoul, who Ray often called Raffy, was softer spoken.

“Well then I sure am glad you’re good at your job,” Ray laughed, swigging back his whiskey, before pouring himself another one.

Raoul mumbled something and excused himself, leaving Ray and Lois in silence.

“So have you got yourself a broad back home?” Lois asked, watching as Ray’s eyes creased as he smiled.

“Yeah, I’ve got a beautiful girl, Barbara. She’s a real beauty. Here?” Ray dug into his jacket pocket and revealed a picture of Barbara. Lois smiled, taking the photo and studying the smiling woman looking back at her. Barbara was a beautiful girl, her brown curls seemed to bounce despite the still photo.

“She sure is a looker, Ray,” Lois passed the picture back and Ray grinned.

“So, have you got a guy in Europe coming home to you?”

Lois laughed, “not quite.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a picture of Dick. The edges were crumpled slightly and she lovingly rubbed her thumb over the picture before passing it to Ray.

“A paratrooper, huh?” Ray laughed, “and a Lieutenant at that. Good job, Drake.”

Lois groaned, reaching back and snatching the photo from Ray’s grip, “Don’t laugh.”

“I’m not,” Ray continued to laugh. “I don’t know if you're just fun and adventurous and he looks like he’d be really uptight.”

“He’s not uptight. Dick is…”

“Ah he has a name. Good to know.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Lois glared at the Lieutenant but he just grinned in amusement.

“Well, one day when you invite me to your wedding I’ll know the groom's name,” Ray raised his eyebrows cheekily, taking another sip from his whiskey. Thinking back, Ray reminded her a lot of Lewis Nixon. Lewis had consumed her thoughts more and more since their parting and the blush that consumed his face when she’d kiss his cheek when they parted. When these thoughts did consume her mind the images of Dick wandered into her mind, brushing Lewis away and becoming her all consuming thought. She’d tried not to think of Dick too often, worried that one he’d distract her and two that if she thought of him too often it would erase the perfect illusion of their beautiful time together in Aldbourne where there was no war and only love.

“Earth to Lois, hey where’d you go?” Ray asked, waving his hand in front of Lois’ face until she snapped out of her dream. Lois swatted his hand away, causing Ray to snort. “All right there, Captain. Take it easy.”

Lois just glared at Ray and he soon fell silent, choosing to look fallornely into the bottom of his empty glass. Lois didn’t know whether to make further conversation with him but after a while he too retired to bed and Lois was left by the dying fire alone.

“Well Dick, our time has nearly come. I’ll see you in Normandy,” she whispered into the embers before surrendering to her exhaustion and returning to her room.

June 5th 1944 in the sky above Normandy with the 101st Airborne

Dick stood in the doorway, watching the world flash by below him in dark shades of green and black. Flak fire blew up around them, hitting several of the C47 and sending them into an explosive nose dive towards the ground. Dick winced as one plane hit in a great burst of fire. He knew they weren’t going to get through the war unscathed but to have already lost so many. The green light flashed beside him and he felt his legs buckle as he threw himself into the night, feeling the static line tug free and ricocheting him into the breeze. Bullets flew past his head and he prayed that somehow he made it to the ground alive. The rippling fire of machine guns and Ack-Acks accompanied his dissent to earth.

The ground connecting with his feet brought him back out of the daze he’d slipped into as he fell and he jumped in response, quickly cutting his parachute free and cursing at the loss of his leg bag and his M1. He was suddenly glad that he’d put his picture of Lois into the inside pocket of his jacket and not with his bible in his leg bag. He wasn’t sure what he’d have done if he’d lost her.

All he had left was his knife and someone he’d not fancy his chances against a German soldier with just a knife. Another paratrooper fell beside him, fumbling and tugged at his parachute.

“Flash?” Dick whispered and shook his head at the private’s profanity. “I don’t think that’s the correct reply, Trooper.” Dick approached the young boy, helping him out of his chute. “I say Flash, you say Thunder.”

“Yes, Sir. Thunder, Sir.” The young boy replied, pulling off his helmet and his may west as Dick opened the boy's musette bag.

“Coach?” The boy looked at Dick, “It’s Hall, Sir. I was on the basketball team.”

Dick nodded, “leg-bag?”

“Prop blast got it, Sir, and my radio and batteries with it,” Hall complained, shoving his helmet back on his head. After establishing that their leg bags were out of reach, Dick tapped Hall on the shoulder, “Follow me.”

June 5th 1944 in the sky above Normandy with the SOE’s

Lois cursed as she hit the ground with a thud, wrestling against the straps of her parachute to pull herself free. She could hear the gunfire to her right in the distance and was thankful that she’d landed away from the main parachute drop zone.

She pulled off her may west and shoved it with her parachute, covering it in the long grass. She was glad her radio had survived the fall and pulled the bag across her body. Keeping her head low, she shuffled towards the direction of an old frame house that was pinned as the rendezvous point. Ray jumped before her and Raoul jumped after, but the amount of men currently being scattered over Normandy, they could have landed anywhere.

Lois knew she was about a mile from the house, glancing at the map once more before shoving it back in her pocket with her compass. It was the compass Dick had given her before she’d left for London.

“It will always guide you back to him.” He’d promised her as they parted ways.

Taking a deep breath, Lois put her best foot forward, keeping her head low as she dashed through the open field, glad that the summer had been warm and the grass and bushes had grown tall providing excellent cover.

The farm house lay in a shadowy, wooded area on the outskirts of a small village. Lois knew it was risky being so close to civilians who could report her but it was the set rendezvous point and if she had any hope of meeting up with Ray and Raoul then that was her only option.

Creepy through the open door, Lois' eyes were plunged into darkness. She scrambled around for her touch, suddenly acutely aware of how bright the gunfire had made it outside, lighting up the sky in an amber burst of ammunition.

A shuffling noise from the back of the kitchen caused Lois to freeze. Was it Ray or Raoul? Shining her torch cautiously around the room she came face to face with a very startled paratrooper who in response threw a plate across the room at her.

“Fuck!” Lois cursed as it clattered loudly to the floor, ceramic shards cascading across the room. “What the fuck was that, Yank?” She hissed, “Did you really think you could smite a Kraut with a plate.”

An amused laugh followed and Lois shone the light back up to reveal the face of none other than Lewis Nixon.

“Only you could be that stupid,” Lois cursed, moving towards him and throwing her arms around him in a quick hug. “But I truly am relieved it was you.”

Lewis chuckled, “It’s good to see you too, Lois. Who would have thought it? You and I stuck in Normandy together, huh?”

Lois nodded, her eyes scanning out the smudge kitchen window to ensure their prescenes hadn’t been noticed. “Where did you land?”

“Just behind the house. I could hear someone coming so I came straight in here. Thought I stood a better chance in here than in the open.”

Lois nodded, turning back to Lewis, her eyebrow raised, “Aren’t you supposed to be taking the guns that are firing on the American beaches?”

Lewis nodded, adjusting his M1 on his shoulder, “I am but we missed the DZ and have been dropped all over the goddamn peninsula.”

Lois nodded, pulling out her map, “Well, I think we’re about here,” she thrust her finger out to the map, pointing at their precise location. “And over here is where you want to be.” She pointed at Sainte Marie Du Mont.

Lewis nodded and although he should be on his way he seemed reluctant to leave. “Do you want me to stay? You know, until the others arrive?”

Lois snorted, “You know I can take care of myself, Lewis, and anyway you have some work to do and you don’t have long to do it.” She pointed to her watch and Lewis sighed.

“You’re right.” He trudged towards the door, shoulders slumped and for a moment Lois wanted to tell him to stop, to wait for a while, after all she could be sending him to his death. But if he waited with her then they could end up dead.

“Lewis,” he stopped in his tracks and turned, a hopeful smile on his lips. She hurried towards him, throwing her arms around his neck and placing a kiss to his cheek. “Be safe alright. Look after yourself and Dick if you find him. He needs you more than he’d let on. You need each other.”

Lewis kissed her forehead, nodding slowly, “I will.” Watching him go, Lois felt the pang of sadness in her heart that she’d felt that day when he’d walked down the front garden when they’d said goodbye. It was strange really, after all Lewis Nixon was not the sort of man she would have ever considered being friends with, and yet in some strange way she wouldn’t be without him. Knowing that he had Dick’s back and Dick had his, filled her with some sense of relief. At least they had each other.

Dear Lois,

I know I won’t be able to send you this letter for a while, but I cannot help but think of you on the night it all began.

Lewis tells me he ran into you after the drop. I’m glad you landed safely. The whole of the 506 missed the drop zone and we were scattered but we have managed to regroup now. We have survived D-Day and may we live through D-Day plus one.

I fear that the days to come will be the hardest, but knowing that you are here, somewhere nearby brings me comfort and I pray that you are safe wherever you may be. I hope the compass is serving you well. I pray that we will both find our way back to each other.

May my words bring you some comfort, whenever you get to read them.

I love you

Dick

Dick sealed the letter, scribbling Lois name on the front before shoving it down into his pocket. They had made it, they had both made it to Normandy safely, that was the first step in a long line of steps that they had to walk to get back to each other, but at least they were one down.

Lewis stuck his head around the door frame, knocking lightly, “You alright?” He flopped down beside him on a rickety chair, taking his hit flask from his jacket pocket and taking a quick swig.

“Yeah, I’m fine. You?” Dick barely looked up at his friend, too preoccupied with Lois’ picture in his hand.

Lewis shrugged, “Can’t complain. What are you

doing?”

Dick oblivious to his friend's question until the picture was taken from his hand, “She sure is a looker, Dick. You did well.”

Dick snatched the picture from his friend's clutches, “She’s not an object, Lew. She’s a very talented woman.” Dick wasn’t sure why he felt the need to defend Lois so much, she was a beautiful woman after all but there was so much more to her than that.

Lewis, seemingly taken aback by Dick’s outburst, sat back down and lit a cigarette, “I never said she wasn’t Dick.” Lewis knew she was a talented woman. He’d seen her file, he’d read about her ventures in occupied France, about her education. He knew far more about her than what she probably told Dick. It saddened him really, that Dick wouldn’t be able to truly know her until after the war, and that was if they both made it that long. It bought Lewis some satisfaction to know more about her than his friend. Someone it made her not being his a little easier. Not that he’d ever tell her how he felt, why would he? Dick was his best friend and he wasn’t about to ruin the best thing he had going. No he would sit, silently and reserved, nursing his unrequited love from afar and ignoring the burning feeling in his chest.

“I sure am glad to see you, Red,” Ray threw his arms around Lois, squeezing her tightly, “And you too, Raffy.” He tried to hug the French man but earned himself a rough push which sent him falling back into the worn armchair.

“It’s good to see you too, Yorkie,” Lois laughed as Ray scrunched his nose at his nickname. While Lois had earned her undercover name for her fiery personality, Ray came from New York, he was a true New Yorker and it had stuck.

“When you too have finished your reunion. We have some Nazis to fight,” Raoul interrupted with a harsh glare.

Lois nodded quickly, gathering up her radio, “Of course. Let’s go.”

As the trio headed out under the cover of darkness into enemy territory, Lois couldn’t help the feeling of dread building in her stomach. They had been trained to the highest level of how to fight and evade the enemy and if in doubt to end their lives to avoid capture and allowing information into the wrong hands. It always baffled her that they wanted to create such a nightly-knit team between the agents and yet they were so dispensable. Lois only hoped things wouldn’t come to that, but nothing in life is certain.

Tags: @georgieluz @iceman-kazansky @yeahcurrahhe-e @msmercury84 @blvestxr @dustyjumpwjngs @theflyingfin @jump-wings @kafka-ohdear @kmc1989 @mads-weasley @docroesmorphine @liptonsbabe @hesbuckcompton-baby @ronsparky @allthingsimagines @bucky32557038ww2 @hanniewinnix @inglourious-imagines @l13bg0tt @1waveshortofashipwreck @malarkgirlypop

(I’ve tagged people who were previously interested in this series - if you’d like to be added or removed from the taglist please let me know)

[steamberrystudio]

27/08/2023

So now that Gilded Shadows is wrapping up, I am promoting When Stars Collide from "Spare time project" to "Part time project"

What is the difference? Well, when I work on something in my spare time, that means it is late at night or the weekend. Literally when I am not doing anything else and just feel like tinkering with it. 

As a part time project, this means that I will be spending an hour or two each day during the work week to do things for this project. It will start making more steady progress even if I'm not focusing on it full time.

This is basically taking it from me spending 0 - 4 hours on it a week to 8-10 hours on it a week. 

My goal is to have the draft complete before the end of the year (by 'draft', I mean 'rough draft'). But more on that below.

Summary

Finished all scenes for the new chapter three

Finished Yren chapter 6 scenes

Started catching Kav's route up to the others

Edited Asher's CG to account for the new conference room BG

Small adjustments to Wil's first CG

Ramble

This week my big focus for WSC has been on writing. As I mentioned, I really want to get the rough draft completed by the end of the year. Currently the draft is nearly 70% complete (for those following updates in multiple places, when you see different percentages....it's because I've written more since then. Rofl).

Now, the draft was nearly 70% in the past as well but I added another route since then, so I lost some progress due to the increase in target word count. I'm also calculating things more precisely now as I created a newer and fancier writing spreadsheet to track my progress and keep myself on track.

I went back and wrote in the new chapter 3, reorganising all the existing chapters and scenes to accommodate it. 

I finished Yren chapter 6 (which catches him up to Noel and Raif). 

And now I'm working on catching Kav, the new character, up to Yren, Noel, and Raif. (Remember, Daaz and Asher's routes are already fully drafted).

I have written about 15000 words since my last update here. I don't expect to write that much every week and my goal is actually a fair bit more modest than that. Gilded Shadows is not 100% complete yet. I still have multiple KS related things to finish and, of course, I will be making corrections and focusing on its beta testing once testers have had a bit more time with it. 

WSC is still a part time project. This was just a particularly good week for it.

I have also worked on a few other things for WSC - mostly UI related and some art related things.

I received a new BG since my last update, and realised that...I have to revamp all the existing CGs. Or at least update them to change the background elements. I've only edited one so far but I don't think it'll be too much effort to fix the others.

And I continue to streamline and adjust the UI to make it look nicer and be more efficient.

So...

Kav. The new character. Kav'isari Tiaine, a Ka'mérian crew member who works in the space labs most of the time and specialises in identifying alien technology (what species it belongs to and what it does).

To explain where Kav came from, he actually popped into my head months ago. And every so often, I would contemplate whether or not I wanted to add him. I would say I first had the idea in January or February of this year. I would repeatedly think about it and dismiss it.

I then mentioned it to a friend sort of off-handedly back at the very beginning of June. A month and a half later, I mentioned him on a voice call on my server knowing full well that if I really talked about him and had a conversation about him, I would probably end up doing enough character brainstorming that he would become "real." And I talked about him anyway.

And that's exactly how he became an actual character. I think I had his sprite sketched out by the end of that day.

But he had existed as a concept long before that. The main reason I was willing to add him instead of ruthlessly telling myself no is just that I felt there was a gap in the cast for a gadfly style character who has a little mystery to him. And I just knew I could manage another route based on the length of Asher and Daaz's routes.

So...yeah. That is how Kav came into being. His introduction into the story has caused a few minor changes to standing lore or things in the prologue (just mentions of him, etc). But the changes to the currently public content of the game are pretty minor.

Kav won't actually appear in the game until Chapter 3. He gets mentioned a few times up to that point. There are some logistical considerations to his route but I have talked about those more on Patreon.

Speaking of Patreon, now that WSC is moved into "part time" status, I will be starting to slowly release some Patreon-exclusive lore posts for this game there. Like most games monetised through Patreon content, the lore posts will not be critical to having a full and complete game experience. Rather, it is going to be comprised of additional and extra lore content.

Some of the lore content released on Patreon will be in the game (such as character back stories) but Patrons will get to see it early and will get it presented in a different format.

Much of the content can be considered "extras" rather than necessary.

I will also be updating on the development progress weekly there (available to all patrons) rather than bi-weekly, and my updates there (going forward) will tend to be more detailed than the ones here.

Once episode releases start, Patrons will be able to access them before they the public releases. But backing on Patreon is not necessary to be able to play the game and get a full and complete game experience. It's just how this particular game will be monetised as I'm looking for more sustainable release styles so I can continue to make games.

That is all for this update. I will see you in a couple of weeks to talk about WSC again!